Availability of tires in southern Chile/Argentina?
 

Hi folks:

My rear tire (150/70R-17s) going to die soon. About 3mm of tread left along the middle (the sides of the tire and rest of the conditions are good). I'm just outside Temuco (675KM south of Santiago). I don't think it'll make it to Ushuaia. Here are my options:

1) I know there is a good tire (in stock) at the MotoVentura shop in Orsono... it's a Haidenau Scout K60 or K66 for 127,900 pesos ($266!)
2) Also there's a company from Santiago named MotoTouring Chile which has the following options. All of which they are willing to send down as far south as Puerto Montt by Turbus... FREE (they have a gringo special, all you have to be is a foreigner ;P).

Continental: Contri-Tri Attack: 124,300 ($258)
Maxxis Bresa Deuor 97,250 ($202)
Fullbora Dual Sport: 89,902 ($187)
Continental Tkc-80: 138,900 ($287)

They need a 4 day notice but I can buy it with a deposit at the Bank of Santiago.

3) Head to Temuco today and see what I can find.
4) Hope that I can buy something on the Argentenian side. My fear here is that I've heard (1) there isn't great tire selection on the Argentenian side and that they are (even) more expensive than this side.

Would love your thoughts on which tire you'd go with and where you would buy it.

Best,
David

Can I travel with a spare tire from the Chile => Argentenian side?
 

I've heard rumors that you CANNOT travel with a spare tire from the Chile side to the Argentenian side. Anyone know if this is true or just a rumor? If this is true; it will greatly complicate my ability to squeeze the last life out of my existing tire before swapping tires (about 1000-1500km left on old tire).

Best,
David

tire troubles
 

We used Motouring Chile two years ago on a trip to Usuahia. At the time, they had Conti-escapes in their shop, which proved to be an awesome tire. We logged over 12,000 miles and still had several thousand more left before changing in order to sell our bikes to new owners. Both Carlos and Marie offered excellent service while we waited in the home/shop. At the time we paid $800 dollars all in for two sets of rears and fronts for our BMW GS 650's. We also travelled back and forth between Argentina and Chile several times crossing borders with no questions being asked about the spare tires we carried. Things may have changed in the last two years but that was our experience. Good luck.

"Importing" new tires into Argentina
 

I brought a new back tire with me on my flight to BA when I went home for a visit and was stopped by the customs at Ezieza Airport and told they were not allowed. After some sweet talk he let me bring it in but when I fly back to BA next month to resume my trip I plan on rubbing the tire on some dirt so I can claim its a used tire and hopefully claim a low value. the quality and life of the American Tires are twice that of the brazil tires they sell down there for twice as much.

I came up from Ushuaia to Orsorno on Heindeau Scouts, along R40 and Carretera Austral. Excellent tyres for that route.

I hear it´s nigh on impossible to get Scouts in Argentina. So Punta Arenas is probably the next place after Orsorno that you can get them. I´d go for Scouts from Motoventura. When I was down there a couple of weeks ago, someone was getting a Scout rear from them and it all seemed to go fine.

some advice
 

to change the tyre, I think Osorno is your beste option.

crossing the borders was no problem for us and other bikers (spring 2012)
We drove with our front tyers for 3 months (bought them a "little" to early doh) crossed the border of Chile/Argenita several times with it, to Bolivia and even Equador.

good luck,
Ils

Hi,

Wow tires for my bike were available everywere for $30 (the cheap ons for $15 dont last very long). Another good reason to travel Southamerica with 125ccm :)

Adventure Motorbike trip around Southamerica: Chile and Argentina part 1

A year ago we entered Argentina twice within one month wit hthe bikes.
First time, they didn't bother about the spare tyres on the back, but also never walked to the bikes to look at them.
Second run, we crossed near Santiago to Mendoza (great ride by the way) and they made a huge hassle about the two tyres I had with me.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO IMPORT GOODS WITH A VALUE >$100, so it is correct that they can hassle you.
I clamed it were my spares, just like a car has a spare.
They stated they were new, and that that was the problem. I suggested to swap them on the spot, so I would carry my used tyres as spares.
Then I wasn't allowed to carry tow anyhow, because cars only carry one too! I explained that carrying one spare would be stupid, when you have a 17"and a 21" rim on a vehicle.
They kept on annoying us, we kept on smiling and after 30 minutes we were allowed to drive on.

A smile goes a mile!

Hola!

Now we really got a problem....:oops2:
One of our rear tyre´s starts to rip...quickly.Started with a hole from a stone now it looks like coin size...

It´s still rideable..but now idea for how long.

Any good idea´s how to get a used or new rear tyre down here in Cochrane??

Thanks for you sugesstions!!!

Werner +Claudia from the sunny Caretera Austral

Cochrane
 

Hola Werner y Claudia,

just checked on google maps where Cochrane is, yes, this is a remote place to find a tyre.

sorry cant help you from here in Bolivia. A friend of mine is coming down with a tour group, but it will take him maybe another month to get as far south as you are now.

Just ask everybody you meet and I am sure you will find a used tyre somewhere that is better than yours. Until than, just ride slow.

Somebody else an idea?

Saludos Mika

Hola nuestros amigos!!

We just arrived in el Chalten, too bad we missed running into you. Cochrane would be a tough town for replacements, but if you have to wait there for a tire to arrive, you can (and should) camp for free at Thompkins land - Conservacion Patagonia, West Winds campground, ~38 km from Cochrane on the way to Paso Roballos, hot water included.

Otherwise, Coyhaique has much more to offer and may be a better bet. It's a noticeably bigger town with big grocery store, mechanics, etc. We didn't look for any parts there, but it would be my best guess. How do you feel about the 350 km of riding between you and Coyhaique?

Good luck with the tire search. And keep enjoying the beautiful weather on the carretera austral!

Cheers,
Mike + Jill

Hola Werner & Claudia
Plenty of shit ripio on the route up for you but not sure if tyres would be available anywhere from what we saw, we're into motoadventura in the morning in Osorno, maybe they could post one?
Gino & Fiona

I looked for a tire in Coyhaique without success. There were at least two mechanics with some used tires, but none which fit my bike. No new ones at all. Thing is, tires can be shipped easily almost anywhere in Chile, so if you need a tire in Cochrane you can have it shipped to you there. You'll just need to wait a couple of days, and pay accordingly. Unfortunately, I was there right after the earthquake, so Santiago was basically shut down--no shipping, no ordering, no internet research, no banks. It should be a lot easier now.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark